Spring-plate valve



May 5, 1953 .I FE-:RRARIV SPRING-PLATE VALVE Filed July 1. 195o lNVENTK Jacyues Fev-rari.

y. N m m Patented May 5, 1953 SPRING-PLATE VALVE Jacques Ferrari, Marseille, France, assignor to` Etablissements Paul Duclos, Le Canet-Marseille, France, a corporation of France Application July 1, 195o, serial No. 171,724v In France August 9, 1949 1 Claim. l l

This invention relates to an improved valve comprising spring-plates as operative members, and is more particularly applicable to iluid compressors, pumps, and similar fluid-handling machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved valve comprising an plurality of springplates adapted t perform the function of valve members in parallel, and adapted to unseat simultaneously in order to uncover duid-passage means normally covered by them, thereby to reduce the force necessary to unseat the valve members and the loss of head through the valve. The provision of such a plurality of valve members provides a valve structure that is highly sensitive or responsive.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the valve is formed of cylindrical interiitting parts, this making for a simple and economical construction and making the assembly easy and quick to assemble and dismantle.

Another object is to provide a cylindrical valve which is easy to accommodate, especially in a rotary compressor, in which it may be located in very close proximity to the delivery chamber, with very small clearance space losses.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of embodiment of a valve according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved valve.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line II-II of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal cross-section on line III-III of Fig. l.

As shown in the drawings, the valve comprises a cylindrical seating I formed with a plurality of holes 2 constituting inlet ports for the fluid, Within the seating casing I and applied against each inlet port 2 is a valve member 3 formed as a flexible spring-plate or strip conforming with the arcuate inner contour of the housing I. Each valve-member 3 seals the corresponding port 2. Its inherent springiness is supplemented by the action of a spring 4 the free end 5 of which is coiled up as shown and presses the valve member 3 against the port 2.

Disposed within the housing I is a cylindrical element 5 which serves the threefold function of a securing means for the valve members 3 and their springs 4, an abutment therefor and further as a delivery conduit for the uid. This cylindrical part 5 is formed with an eccentrically positioned internal bore 1. It further is preferably iormed, on the side thereof adjacent to the port 2 and which is the thinner side of the part,

with one or more apertures 8 for the passage of iiuid delivered past the valve-members 3. The part 6 is so mounted in the housing I that the internal conduit 'I is coaxial with said housing. As a result, the outer contour of the part 6 is eccentric relatively to the housing; in this way, on the side of the ports 2, a suitable spa-ce is dened between the part 6 and the housing I for accommodating the movements of the valve members 3 and springs 4. This clearance space for movement is still further augmented by the provision of the passage 8. On the opposite side the configuration of the part 6 is such as to cause said part to be applied against the inner surface of housing I, clamping against the latter the fixed end of the strips 3 and springs 4.

It will thus be seen that the part 6 not only serves to retain and centre the valve members or strips and their related springs, but also serves as a backing surface therefor during their opening movements, and constitutes an abutment.

The central part "I may be directly connected with the delivery tube 9.

The above-described valve assembly operates as follows. Under the pressure of the uid at the ports 2, the valve strips 3 are resiliently lowered, allowing iluid to enter and pass through the aperture 8 into the bore 1 and thence into the pipe 9. the valve strips 3 are restored to their sealing positions over the ports 2 at which they remain, until such time as they are again subjected to an excess pressure. I

It will be noted that, in the arrangement shown, the valve is unresponsive to sudden pressure surges. This desirable feature is attained by the action of the side edge II] of the port 8. For, as

the valve member 3 vis raised, the force required to open it remains substantially constant until the member Il reaches a position in which it engages the abutment member 6 at the point I0. This unseating force is predetermined up to the limit of safe opening. If at that time a surge condition occurs which suddenly increases the pressure, the strip 3 will continue upon its opening movement, but will do so by pivoting the spring 4 about the point Il) as a fulcrum, that is, `with a shorter leverage than before, and will accordingly require an increasing unseating force and will oppose a gradually increasing resistance.

It will be observed that a valve according to the invention may be made to include any desired number of valve members 3. The structure is essentially composed of parts having surfaces of revolution easy to machine on a lathe and which As soon as the pressure is relieved,y

can easily be assembled and disassembled in a single operation. Different materials may be used for the construction of the individual parts of the structure, the material selected being in each instance the most suitable in view of the function that the part has to fulll.

The finished valve is in the form of a smallsized cylinder 'which is easy to accommodate in the machine, such as a pump or a compressor, without requiring a substantial amount of clearance space.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the specie vform -of embodiment illustrated and described. Various modifications and variations may be made in 4and from the constructional details shown. Thus, the respective functions of the housing member I and abutment or backing member 6 may be inverted Without altering the basic principle fof `the invention.

v What I-claim lA Valvecompr-ising .a hollow ,cylindrical casing with at least one iuidinletport extending radially therethrough, a hollow .cylindrical .body `disposed Within said casing -withits axis eccentricallyspaced fromithefcasing axis -ina direction away from .said 'in-let port, said ybody having at .least one l'port :aligned with said inlet port, said eccentric disposition of Asaid body providing a wide `spacing between said body and said casing adjacent said por-ts and -a close spacing between the diamietr-icaJJy opposite side yof `the body and thefcasing, anarcuate flexible valve member. and

an arcuate spring member, said members having adjacent ends clamped together between the closely spaced parts of said body and casing, said members extending half way around said body with their opposite ends between said ports. said spring member being inside said valve member and feffe'ctive to bias said opposite end of said valve member toward seating engagement with the inner surface of the casing around said inlet port, said wide spacing permitting an inward opening movement of the Valve against said spring in response to pressure outside said casing, said vport in said vbody being widened at its outer end to form :a shoulder on said body against which said 'spring-member abuts when said valve member opens La predetermined distance, so as to reduce 'the eifective length of the spring and thereby increase the force necessary to open the valve furthel;

JACQUES FERRARI.

References 'cima in the nie ,of this patent ommen .srATEs 4laifrmrrs Number Name Date 1,768,109 Boynton June 24, 1930 1,955,007 McClay Apr. 17, 1934 1,967,619 Justheim July 24, 1934 2,420,056 'Seligm'ann May 6, 1947 v.lillRElGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,3116 Great Britain of '1903 

